Recently, microglia were found to have roles in synaptic pruning, synaptic stripping, and neuroprotection. Through these studies an interesting phenomenon of microglia making soma-to-soma contact, “hugging”, with cortical neurons was observed. The goal of this study was to use transgenic mice to define hugging behavior throughout post-natal neuronal development. Specifically, how many soma-to-soma contacts were being made by microglia and what types of neurons were being contacted. I further investigated the role of AMIGO1, a cell adhesion molecule found in neurons and glia, in hugging behavior. Understanding normal microglial-neuronal interactions in the healthy brain is relevant to many neurodevelopmental diseases.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Gergits, Frederick Wolfgang

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042717-124306

Advisor

• Farny, Natalie

Year

• 2017

Sponsor

• UMass Medical

Date created

• 2017-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright